Transcript of ESPN / MLB All-Star Conference Call
Today, ESPN held a media conference call to discuss the upcoming 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby and MLB All-Star coverage. ESPN will televise the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 11, at 8 p.m. ET, with coverage also available via ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Radio, ESPN 3D, and ESPN Deportes. This is ESPN’s 19th consecutive year televising the Derby, traditionally one of the network’s highest-rated summer programs.
The conference call featured Home Run Derby analysts John Kruk and Nomar Garciaparra, along with Mike McQuade, vice president, production, and Mike Ryan, vice president, programming and acquisitions. Following is a transcript.
Q. What kind of preparations do you do for any bit like this given that it's kind of a ‑‑ there's not the natural raw emotion of the game. Yet there are some dramatic things that can happen like Josh Hamilton's home run display a few years ago at Yankee Stadium?
JOHN KRUK: Yeah, this is my first year doing this part of it. So I'm going in just like a fan, watching the Home Run Derby. And I think there's only so many ways you can break down a swing. But you marvel as a former player at just how big these gentleman are and how far they hit a ball…It would be a dream to try to hit a ball that far. You wish you could hit the ball that far, and they do it on a regular basis. I think for me the excitement for me of just being down on the field and seeing that display is going to be pretty special.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Yeah, I'd have to agree with Kruky on that. I think when you actually watch the Home Run Derby, you see all the players lined up watching it. I mean, being an All‑Star Game, it's not mandatory for you to be out there and watch the Home Run Derby. It's really about workout and address the media. You're allowed to go and be with your family and do what you want to do. But none of them do because they want to go out there and stand out there and see exactly what Kruky said. They go out there and marvel to see how far, how many they can actually hit. Those guys, especially when you're hitting in batting practice, you know it's not easy. Batting practice is totally different than this environment.
So as a player, yeah, I'm excited just to be there and be able to ‑‑ I can't believe they're going to put a mic on me to tell you how crazy this is and how amazing it truly is and how incredible these athletes truly are when they're hitting that ball that far.
Q. Did you guys ever do a little Home Run Derby competition during BP during your playing days?
JOHN KRUK: Yeah, yeah, I mean, every once in a while you get a little happy and you're feeling pretty good and you think you can do it. Then after about ten swings as hard as you can swing trying to hit it as far as you can hit it, you realize I'm not in the best shape to perform this act.
I think that's the big thing too. There is a strategy involved in these guys pacing themselves, being selective at the plate, taking pitches to get rest. Everyone thinks, oh, God, that was a pretty good pitch. Why doesn't he swing? He might not have been able to at that point. He may have to take a couple pitches to get the strength back in his arm. That is to me the hard part of the strategy of how these things work out. That's why the veteran guys have the advantage.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: You always mess around during batting practice. You might have a nice round and say, okay, guys, this last round which might be six or seven swings, let's see who hits the most home runs or the most in a row, you can definitely do that.
What Kruky says is exactly right. I remember doing a Home Run Derby. The players in the offseason hosted a Home Run Derby. I did the first one. I remember when I was done, every muscle in my body was hurting from head to toe, and I had to jump in a hot tub just to have my body calm down. That's how much you're using your entire body and how much it takes out of you.
Q. Nomar, Matt Kemp is doing this for the first time. Maybe he's not your traditional slugger type body type. He might be more your body type. So speaking from experience, how does this kind of event mess around with your swing or is that kind of an overrated thing that gets talked about too much?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Well, first of all, I wish I had his body type. I don't think we're the same body type. Are you kidding me? Wow. I don't think it will mess with his swing. I think the hardest thing and the important thing is you've got to be big and strong for this event.
It is totally different when you're in batting practice you can kind of get into rhythm. The pitcher's throwing the ball and you're going. In batting practice they say don't look at the ball. You're supposed to just hit. You can kind of get in that rhythm.
Here it's swing, watch, tend to sit back in the box and let's swing as hard as you can again. Step out, get back in the box. That is difficult to do as a hitter. That takes a lot of sheer strength body‑wise all through the body.
When I look at the way Matt Kemp is built, he has that. So I think he'll be all right. The difficult thing is to get away from all the emotion that's surrounding it. Get away from the anxiety, because that is all going to be a part of it.
You realize there are thousands and thousands of people in the stands. All they're doing is focused on you and watching. All eyes are on you in this one swing and every one you do. I know it's like that during the season, but this is a totally different way to do it. There are nerves, anxiety, adrenaline, and you have to combat all of that, especially for your first time. But I think he has the body and strength to do it.
Q. Is the talk about how swings get messed up from doing this overrated?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: I think so. I think the All‑Star's just a unique thing. When you do that, you go out there and swing and swing hard. At this level to be successful if you're an All‑Star, you know what you have to do to get back on track.
JOHN KRUK: I agree with Nomar. I think every player that's ever played from a guy that hits two home runs a year to a guy that hits 50 home runs a year, they have a point in batting practice where they're trying to hit home runs.
Tony Gwynn every once in a while would try to do it too, and he used to hit .380 every year. Didn't do too much to his swing. Everyone does it, so it doesn't mess up your swing.
Q. I was wondering, in choosing guys for the Home Run Derby, I've heard it said that maybe Ortiz and Fielder as the captain's might have been better off choosing guys who just hit a lot of home runs in BP as opposed to the guys that are actually leading the league in home runs. How do you feel about that topic?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Well, I think it's tough. It is, because you've got to look at it's the Home Run Derby and you look at what people outside are looking at, they're going, well, how come this guy who is leading the league is not in it? Or how come the top leaders are not in the Home Run Derby, because as fans that's what you're watching. You're seeing the game. The All‑Star Game is about the fans coming up and celebrating the game, so they want to see these big‑time sluggers. You're right.
I remember when they asked me who would you pick? I said Ichiro Suzuki. Everybody looked at me like I had two heads. He's got one home run this year. I said, but if you hear everybody around baseball, they say he puts on an absolute display for batting practice.
They have a tough job. They really do. It's tough to pick. Say I'm just going to go around the league and get the guys who hit in batting practice. Like I said, this event is a lot different than batting practice. Batting practice is a rhythm.
I said Ichiro Suzuki. Maybe he can do it because the guy's just throwing the ball one after the other. He just has this swing and rhythm. If he had to step out and do it every single swing, I don't know, because it is a totally different environment.
JOHN KRUK: Well, you know, the hardest thing is trying to get four guys that want to do it because they know how excruciating this process can be the deeper you go. People remember Josh Hamilton how many home runs he hit. But they forget that the later rounds he didn't do too well because of fatigue factor.
A lot of guys don't want to go through that. So when you hear David Ortiz yesterday on our show say I had to ask my boys to do it. It was more like, well, I asked Adrian Gonzalez, hey, if you want me to do it, I'll do it. Wasn't like he was volunteering to do it. It's if you ask me, I'll do it. To get the top guys to do it, it's a little more difficult than what you think.
I really wish that Justin Upton was in it. I really do. But besides that, this could be a great show that these guys pull off. People are going to get to see Matt Kemp for the first time in the big public forum and see how special a player he is.
Q. A follow up on the last question. I have one more quick one after that. Who, specifically, would you guys have looked to see these guys choose?
JOHN KRUK: Bryce Harper. I would have loved to see Harper. I really would. I think he's the next big thing in baseball. Everyone you talk to can only marvel at just how powerful this kid is at such a young age. We've heard he's had some 500‑foot home runs, 450, 470‑foot home runs.
I think if you put him on this stage, it would be an unbelievable ratings boom for ESPN. People would want to see this kid, see what he's all about, see that swing. I'd like to see Bryce Harper. If not, I'd like to see Mike Stanton.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: For me I was going to say Mike Stanton. I don't think people out there know as much about Mike Stanton as they should. You mentioned earlier a question about Matt Kemp's body; you should see this kid's body. It's really incredible.
His home runs he hits are a long way. I think they can go out of two fields let alone just one. I think that would be would be fun to watch and fans would enjoy watching him.
Q. The other question I had was just a DH in a National League ballpark for the first time, and now it's going to be all the time in the All‑Star Game. Your thoughts on that and did you ever see the DH coming to the NL on a full‑time basis or is that not going to happen?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Well, I don't mind it when they come to the All‑Star. I know in the National League ballparks and doing that there are a limited amount of players you can get. You don't want to see pitchers or anybody get hurt. You never want to see that, especially in the All‑Star Game. I can see the DH being part of that. I really don't have a problem within the All‑Star Game.
As far as them changing it or going a complete DH, I sure hope not. I really like the fact that pitchers do hit. Not that I like the National League over the American League, but I sure never want to see that gone in the game. As long as one league has it, I think it's great.
JOHN KRUK: I'm different than that. I was always against the designated hitter. But if it's not going to go away, I wish to me if this is interleague play and both teams had the same set of rules you know DH. It's really just the American League you build your team to play the majority of your games with a DH.
A perfect example is David Ortiz. He's a DH. That's what he does and that's all he can do. To have him have to sit out ‑‑ people say he should learn how to play defense. Well, he hasn't done it in a long time. So it's hard to ask someone who hasn't done it in a long time go do it for six or eight games.
I wish they had a uniform rule with the DH or without the DH, to have it the same for both leagues. As far as the All‑Star Game, hopefully this will get pitchers to pitch three innings instead of one or two because you don't have to pinch hit for them in the second inning.
I like the DH. I'd rather see another offensive player in there. They're really low‑scoring games, and you have the best pitchers in the world pitching against the best hitters in the world. You have the advantage of the pitcher. So let's instead of having an easy out with the pitcher, let them get another regular hitter out.
Q. What if they have to keep the roof closed because of the heat? Is that going to take some luster off this?
JOHN KRUK: They better keep the roof closed or else I'll die (laughing).
Q. Wanted to see if John and Nomar would weigh in on Matt Holliday's season, and how he might fare in the derby?
JOHN KRUK: I mean, the guy's an absolute animal. I've never seen a guy that hit a line drive home run like him yesterday. And like when I was watching that game, I said if I hit that same ball, it would have been right at the right fielder and thought I hit that ball good.
He hits that same ball, it's a home run. That's why I think this could be a difficult thing for him in the Home Run Derby because he's a line-drive hitter. He might lose home runs with line drives that hit the fence, especially his power to centerfield. His line drives in that ballpark at Turner Field will hit off that big wall out there.
I think it could be a detriment to him because he's such a line drive hitter with unbelievable power. Can he elevate the ball enough to win this? He can. I don't know if he's able to do it in this format though. So I think he's at a disadvantage because of the fact that he's such a line drive hitter.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: For me, I think he's done one before. He's been in one, so I think that helps him and his experience. Two, I also played with him in Oakland and watched him take batting practice. It seemed that everything he tried to hit was a home run. It's unbelievable.
I don't know if you've been to Oakland, but the sky boxes that they have for the football games in centerfield and how high, he was hitting them into the sky boxes. If they had the window open, somebody would have a souvenir.
It is unbelievable. We would all marvel. Even on our team there were times in batting practice where guys would stop taking groundballs and just watch to see how far he would hit it.
I think after having experience in the Home Run Derby, knowing what it's about, I think this time he might fare a lot better.
Q. Are you picking him?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: You know what, I've got to see guys. Last year I picked David Ortiz, and before I went in I remember walking around the All‑Star Game and I said David Ortiz is winning it and I picked him. Everybody says what? I saw it. I said I'm going to wait there. It's like going to a horse race. I need to see the horse's eyes.
Q. Nomar, wanted to switch gears here for a minute. As a guy who came up at the same time as Derek Jeter, I wondered what your thoughts are about him to reach 3,000 hits and what a milestone like that says about his durability and his longevity?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: I think it's awesome. I'm a fan like everybody else watching. I hope he gets it and knowing he's going to get it. But I think it speaks volumes of those two things, of a person's longevity, not just durability, but consistency. That's how consistent he's been over his career.
When you just do the numbers, I mean, 200 hits in 15 years to get 3,000, that's what it takes. That's a lot. That's playing the game an awful lot and being a force and being good for an awfully long time.
Q. Mike, what is Sam Fuld going to bring to your broadcast and why did you guys pick him?
MIKE McQuade: Well, Sam has proven in the first half of the season to be as valuable a defensive player as there is in baseball. Where our set is located for the Home Run Derby is going to be in the line of fire, so to speak. So our original idea was for Sam to help protect Karl Ravech and Barry Larkin and Bobby Valentine from getting nailed with some screaming line drive home runs. That's since expanded to just helping us out overall during the course of the Home Run Derby, so we're looking forward to that.
Q. So Valentine has to depend on Sam Fuld to save him, huh?
MIKE McQUADE: Yeah, I'm not sure if that would be literal or figuratively, but, yes.
Q. So he'll be doing some on‑air stuff as well?
MIKE McQUADE: Yes, we'll be using him in the pregame show. The Baseball Tonight pregame show and Sportscenter before and after as well.
Q. A quick follow‑up. He said he asked if he were to make any catches and save your talent, would he get web gem points for that; is that indeed part of the deal?
MIKE McQUADE: It depends on the mood that the staff is in. He may lose points, actually, in the ratings.
Q. Gotcha.
JOHN KRUK: Depends on who he saves (laughing).
Q. Nomar, five years ago you set a final vote record. Now we're about 24 hours away. At the last count it was Andre Ethier trailing Victorino. I wondered what your thoughts were on that having gone through that process before and the guy with a homestand with the Dodgers like you were back then?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Well, it's always an honor to play in the games and when you get voted in that away with that last vote ‑‑ I don't know if that was the first year. I don't know if that was the first year they kind of implemented that.
Q. It was the fourth year.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Okay, the fourth year. I think it's great. I think it's great. You're sitting there, you just don't know. You hear about it. When you have the media coming to you before the game or after the game and it's like, how are you feeling? And you say I don't know. What is latest tally?
You're like, okay, because you don't know what your plans are going to be; whether you're going to have an opportunity to go to the All‑Star Game which is great, or if you're making plans with your family.
I know what those guys are going through. You know, just after, you're not really worried about it until it happens. You're going okay, I'll deal with it. I remember them telling me you guys let me know what happens. And they let me know, I'm like, congrats and you're excited.
Q. Can I just follow up by asking you and Kruky what your prediction is for the Home Run Derby? I don't think you've been asked that yet.
JOHN KRUK: You know, every year I pick my guy who goes down quick. So I don't want to. Someone, Justin Upton tweeted or something, and I said if you're in, I'm picking you. Then someone said don't pick him, every time you pick, your guy goes out early and you want him to win.
So I'm waiting like Nomar. I'm going to wait for the horses to come out and take a lap around the field before I pick which one I'm going to take.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: That's what I'm doing. I'm going to wait till I see them and talk to them and say, oh, okay, here's my guy.
JOHN KRUK: We have to motivate them first.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: Yeah, exactly. Plus that will make people tune in so they know who we're going to pick.
Q. You guys were talking before and Nomar mentioned Ichiro. And like when you get to the goals wall you're trying to hit home runs and earn some extra money for the charities and whatever. Do you think guys can place them down the line as opposed to get caught up and go for 376 or go for 330s if you can hit it, a guy's able to do that when caught up in the emotions of what's going on?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: I think when you get that golden ball and you're just thinking about hitting it out of the ballpark. I don't think the dimensions ‑‑ I mean, these guys are so big and strong. Their thought is keep it fair and hit it as far as they can. That's what's on their mind.
When the golden ball isn't there, they know that. But they're trying to keep a rhythm and their swing and everything going as best they can.
JOHN KRUK: I agree with Nomar. If these guys hit it off the barrel of the bat, it doesn't matter which direction they hit it in, if it's high enough, it's going out everywhere. Justin Upton can hit it to right field as well as to left field. I wish he was in it.
But Prince Fielder, we saw him the other night he hit an absolute bomb to left centerfield. It doesn't matter. If these guys hit it square, gold ball, right ball, they don't have to aim for 330. 330 is a jam shot for most of these guys.
Q. Couple production questions for Mike McQuade real quick. Mike, did you consider doing a single truck for 2D and 3D this year as you're doing for boxing and some other stuff?
MIKE McQUADE: We did not because of the lateness in which the 3D was decided. I believe if we ‑‑ I believe with another year we'd be very close to thinking about doing that.
Q. Along those same lines, this is sort of the first year anniversary just because the World Cup wasn't produced by ESPN for 3D. How far has it come in terms of 3D production in the last 12 months?
MIKE McQUADE: Sports in general how far has it come?
Q. The ESPN 3D outfit in general. How far has the production technique gone? It seemed you were flying blind a little bit last year.
MIKE McQUADE: I actually believe I may have done the first ESPN produced one before there was an actual network and that was the Masters in 3D last year. The idea at that point of doing it out of one truck was unheard of. I think the advances in one year are remarkable. But like anything else, people and technology just continue to evolve and ideas continue to evolve. So I think it's made great strides.
Q. If had you had to pick one, maybe two things on the 2D side, what are you most excited about the new elements this year?
MIKE McQUADE: I would say the tracking, the live tracking in which we'll have the ability to do. Like the model we have used at the British Open. We're able to track drives live, we'll be able to do that. We'll also be able to add the distance. I would say those are the best enhancements.
I also think the enhancement that's never talked about is just the audio. I know people don't sit at home alone and watch sporting events (for the audio). But when you take the time to actually listen to this event and just listen to the ball come off the bat, that to me is an enhancement that's not talked about enough.
Q. With hearing from some of the managers complaints about the selections, particularly about Andrew McCutchen not getting included in the All‑Star Game, and Tim Lincecum not getting picked over Anibal Sanchez; what do you think about those choices?
JOHN KRUK: Yeah, you know, they're both very deserving of their award. You know, you respect the managers for fighting for them to try to get them on and have them on the team. But you have to understand Bruce Bochy's side too. I read a comment he said. He said, you know, I understand that they want their players in, but he said now you're disrespecting the players that are in by saying your guy's better than them.
It's such a tough situation. You know the thought I should have been an All‑Star. But you know, they look at the guys after it and it's like it's not like they're throwing junk out there. They're all great players. I respect the fact that Clint and Jack are fighting for their guys, but you have to respect the guys that are out there too and say it just wasn't meant to be.
Q. The two second basemen who are going to be in it, can they put up a legitimate show against these other bigger guys?
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA: I think they can. I think those guys can swing. If they've got a pretty swing and they've got a home run type swing ‑‑ I remember back in Houston when Miguel Tejada was with some pretty big guys and (he) won it. So I think a second baseman can compete with these big guys.
JOHN KRUK: Yeah, I don't know if you've ever seen Rickie Weeks. He's not tall, but I would venture to guess there is not a linebacker in football built like him. This guy is just an absolute huge human being.
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